Famous Chipperfield circus refused a licence to perform in England

Thomas Chipperfield has been off the road for more than two years, after withdrawing his first circus licence application after a DEFRA inspection found his animals’ accommodation to be not of a sufficient size

North Staffordshire Magistrates Court have upheld the decision to refuse big cat circus trainer Thomas Chipperfield a licence to perform in England.

Animal Defenders International (ADI) has welcomed the decision by DEFRA, which follows an appeal by Mr Chipperfield.

Thomas Chipperfield has been off the road for more than two years, after withdrawing his first circus licence application after a DEFRA inspection found his animals’ accommodation to be not of a sufficient size. A tour of Wales in 2015, where regulations do not apply, sparked a public outcry and political opposition.

As reported by the BBC, Defra “was not satisfied licensing conditions would be met based on Mr Chipperfield's previous conduct as an operator of a travelling circus and other relevant circumstances” and refused his licence in July 2017.

The North Staffordshire Magistrates Court upheld the decision in January on the basis that “along with concerns over licensing conditions not being met it felt he would also be unable maintain suitable care plans for the animals and to provide written itineraries.”

May 1953 a Chipperfield's Circus trainer at work with a polar bear

ADI has exposed the lives of Chipperfield’s two lions and now one tiger on several occasions who say the big cats are confined to cages on the back of a truck with restricted access to an exercise area. ADI footage has shown the animals displaying abnormal behaviour, indicating that they are not coping with their environment.

ADI President Jan Creamer said: "The decisive action taken by DEFRA and the court is a victory for common sense and we hope signals the beginning of the end of circus suffering in England.

"Travelling shows cannot meet animals’ needs and ADI has repeatedly documented suffering and abuse. Let’s now consign these outdated acts to the past where they belong, across the UK.”

Read More

The announcement in February that the UK Government would ban wild animal acts in England by January 2020, follows a decade of promises and more than 20 years of investigations and campaigning by ADI.

Repeated efforts by backbench MPs to bring in a ban through Private Member’s Bills, supported by ADI, have been thwarted by just a few MPs; the latest from Conservative MP Trudy Harrison will have its second reading on Friday, April 27.

National restrictions on performing animals in travelling circuses have been enacted in 43 countries

Changing attitudes and awareness of animal suffering have seen the number of wild animal circuses in Britain plummet. Only two circuses perform in England with wild animals, Circus Mondao and Peter Jolly’s Circus. Opinion polls consistently show that the UK public remains overwhelmingly opposed to wild animal acts, with a high proportion against all animal acts.

The front page of the Grimsby Evening Telegraph, March 8, 1991 when the lions escaped

When Chipperfield's lions escaped in Grimsby

In March 1991, four circus lions brought the town to a standstill after they broke free during a performance at Chipperfield’s Circus.

At around 7.40pm on Thursday, March 7 1991, the lions escaped from their cage set which was set up in Burgess Street, Grimsby.

The lions roamed the centre for more than an hour, before being caged by circus staff and police. One man was attacked and mauled by one of the lions after being chased down Victoria Street and pounced upon.

Michael Strandt was saved when quick-thinking policeman Ron Harrison, rammed the beast with his patrol car, as it savaged Mr Strandt’s neck and throat. He later needed 24 stitches to treat his injuries.

“The next thing, this lion was pounding after me. It leaped up to me, grabbing the top of my shoulder, and pulled me down,” Mr Strandt said shortly after his ordeal.

“I thought I was never going to get up. I rolled into a ball to try to protect myself.”

The brave clown, armed with only a chair, helps police as they try to capture the circus fugitives. (Image: Telegraph Library Picture)

Circus staff were widely praised for the way they handled the break-out, and one red-nosed clown was hailed a hero after he chased after one of the lions.

“The clown, complete with red nose, big feet and ridiculous costume trapped one of the lions in an alley at the Victoria Street bus station,” reported the Grimsby Telegraph.

The clown had earlier rushed into the nearby Grimsby Police Station to alert the force about what had happened. Along with Sgt Stewart Bellamy, the clown used the stick and chair to keep the animal at bay until help arrived.

Sgt Bellamy said: “I was absolutely terrified. The clown was very, very brave.

“I was outside the police station in a car when I saw a clown and a lion. The animal was going down the passageway at the bus station.”

The police sergeant blocked the passage with his car, and the clown used the chair and stick to ward off the lion before some gates were shut to trap the animal.

“I thought that was it, we had the lion. But then the clown informed me there were three more on the loose!

“The reaction of people nearby was total disbelief and they would not take notice of what we were telling them. They were putting themselves in great danger,” he said at the time.